But Michael Balston, the chairman of judges, said Sturgeon's was "a champion garden" that was a clear favourite for the top prize. He said: "There are some that grab you by the balls a bit more and Andy's did for most of us. His use of space is very subtle. It has a superb dynamic as you walk around it and different views are revealed."

Sturgeon also benefited by ignoring one of the main trends at Chelsea this year - the elaborate water feature. Balston said: "With all the pollen coming down from the trees, everyone is having to skim their ponds. He has practically no pond to skim."